Shelves



A ril 8, 1969 J. SAINSBURY SHELVES Filed Aug. 1,. 1967 I N VEN'IOR JOHNsAiNsBuRY ween.

United States Patent 3,437,214 SHELVES John Sainsbury, Little Aston,England, assignor to Sainsbury & Parkinson Limited, Wallsall,Stalfordshire, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Aug. 1,1967, Ser. No. 657,589 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug.6, 1966, 35,311/ 66 Int. Cl. A47f /08; A471) 47/00; E04g 3/04 US. Cl.211-90 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shelf assembly comprises amounting strip, a shelf arranged to be supported along one edge in alongitudinal channel in the mounting strip and a pair of end caps. Theend caps are arranged to fit over the ends of the mounting strip andshelf to maintain these two members in assembled relationship. The shelfassembly is suitable for mounting on a wall above a central heatingradiator and includes means for providing a draught-proof seal betweenthe mounting strip and the wall.

This invention has reference to shelves and has, as its principal objectthe provision of a shelf assembly which is economical to manufacture, iscapable of being mounted in position quickly and easily and, when somounted, is neat and attractive in appearance.

According to the invention a shelf assembly comprises a mounting stripdefining a longitudinal channel of which one side is deeper than theother, a longitudinal lip on the mounting strip at each side of thechannel extending inwardly of the channel mouth, a shelf engageable inthe channel to be co-extensive therewith with opposite sides of theshelf in abutment with the lips, and two recessed caps each engageableover one end of the mounting strip and the shelf when mounted thereinand operative to prevent disengagement of the shelf and mounting strip.

Preferably, the mounting strip or at least those parts thereof definingthe sides of the channel is or are capable of limited resilientdeflection, and the perpendicular distance between the free longitudinaledges of the lips, that is the spacing between these edges transverselyof the channel, is less than the thickness of the shelf. Consequentlywhen inserted in the mounting strip channel the shelf extends at aslight inclination to the perpendicular to the base of the mountingstrip and must be forced into the perpendicular before it is possible,to fit the end caps in position. This causes the sides of the channel tobe forced apart and resiliently stressed, so that when the end caps arefitted this stressing produces an improved engagement between the endcaps and shelf and mounting strip.

Preferably, each longitudinal edge of the shelf is provided with ribswhich project beyond the opposed lipabutting shelf faces and thethickness of the ribs is less than the distance between the mountingstrip base and lip or the shallower side of the channel, so that afterengagement of one edge of the shelf in the channel and before fitting ofthe end caps a limited movement of the shelf towards and away from thebase is possible. Hence when, as intended, the mounting strip is securedhorizontally against an upright surface of a wall or like rigid support,the engagement of the ribbed shelf edge in the channel is not hinderedshould the strip be distorted as a consequence of any uneveness of thesaid surface.

Preferably, the end caps comprise metal die-castings formed with groovesto receive the ends of the shelf and mounting strip, and having one ormore lugs or studs to assist location of the end caps.

The mounting strip can be of any suitable construction but preferablycomprises a steel pressing of generally triangular shape in section andhaving a flat base for mounting against the supporting surface. The baseof the mounting strip can be provided with a longitudinal groove toreceive a strip of felt, rubber or other sealing materials so that whenthe shelf is mounted no air currents can pass between the mounting stripand the supporting surface. This feature is particularly desirable wherethe shelf is to be mounted on a wall above a central heating radiator,since the sealing strip prevents staining of the wall above the shelfcommonly caused by air currents convected behind the rear edge of ashelf.

The invention will further be described, by Way of example only, withreference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shelf assembly according to theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view showing details of thecomponents of the assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the shelf assembly mounted ona supporting wall;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing details of twocomponents of an alternative form of shelf assembly in accordance withthe invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view showing one stage in the mounting ofthe shelf assembly of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the shelf assembly of FIGURES 4and 5 mounted on a supporting wall.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 3 the shelf assembly shown comprises amounting strip 10, a shelf 11 and two end caps 12. The mounting strip 10is fabricated in wood and is triangular-shaped in cross-section having afiat base 14 and a longitudinal channel 15 defined by two limbs 16 and17. The limbs 16 and 17 carry longitudinal lips 18, 19 respectivelyextending inwards of the channel mouth, the limb 16 being shorter thanthe limb 17. The mounting strip is provided with a plurality of holes 20extending through the base and the mounting strip can be secured to asupporting surface as by screws passed through these holes.

The shelf 11 is suitably fabricated in chipboard and covered on oppositesides with veneers of different colours and/or patterns. Thelongitudinal edges of the shelf carry -shaped members 22 secured theretoand providing longitudinal ribs 23 which project beyond the oppositesurfaces of the shelf. The shelf is of a thickness equal to theperpendicular spacing between the lips 18, 19, the thickness of the ribsbeing less than the distance between the lip 18 and the base of thechannel in the strip 10.

Each end cap 12 comprises a moulding in thermosetting synthetic plasticsmaterial and contains a recess 24 corresponding in shape to theassembled profile of the shelf and mounting strip. Within the recess 24is carried a wedge-shaped lug 25 which in the assembled conditionextends into the channel 15 between the limb 17 and the underside of theshelf 11 and between the lip 19 and the rib 23, making a friction fitbetween the shelf and the strip 10. If desired the portion of the recess24 which registers with the shelf end may be of greater deph than theportion of the recess which registers with the mounting strip end sothat should any part of the shelf end extend beyond the strip end,assembly of the cap is not hindered.

An alternative and preferred form of shelf assembly is shown in FIGURES4 to 6 and comprises a mounting strip 10a, shelf 11 and end caps 12a.The mounting strip comprises a channel section metal pressing formedwith folded over lips 18a, 19a, and defining a channel to receive theshelf 11. The perpendicular distance between the lips 18a, 19a is lessthan the thickness of the shelf 11, so that when the shelf is insertedin the channel it is inclined out of the perpendicular to the base ofthe strip as indicated in FIGURE 5. The shelf must be forced into the.perpendicular before it is possible to fit the end caps 12a, and in theassembled condition shown in FIGURE -6 the limbs of the strip 101: are,therefore, flexed apart and resiliently loaded, thus producing reactiveforces between the shelf and the end caps which positively preventrelative movement between the shelf and the strip. Each cap 120comprises a Zinc die casting and, includes two spaced tapered studs 26which are arranged to engage the mounting strip 10a at opposite ends ofthe base thereof as indicated in FIGURE 6 The studs 26 are spaced fromthe wall of the recess 24a of the end cap by a distance equal to thethickness of the metal of the mounting strip. In the assembled conditionstuds 26 resist any tendency for the end caps 12a to be tilted by thereactive forces applied to the shelf by the limbs of the mounting strip10a.

A longitudinal groove 27 in the base 14a of the strip 10a received astrip 28 of sealing material such as felt. In its free condition thestrip 28 is of greater thickness than the depth of the groove 27 so thatwhen the strip 100 is mounted on a wall the strip 27 is compressed andeffects a draught-proof seal between the mounting strip and the wall.

One of the primary purposes for which the assemblies described areintended is to provide a shelf above a radiator of a central heatingsystem. The mounting strip and shelf can be manufactured in standardlength and cut on site to a smaller length determined by the length of aradiator.

I claim:

1. A shelf assembly comprising a mounting strip defining a longitudinalchannel of which one side is deeper than the other, a longitudinal lipon the mounting strip at each side of the channel extending inwardly ofthe channel mouth, a shelf engageable in the channel to be co-extensivetherewith with opposite sides of the shelf in abutment with the lips,and two recessed caps each engageable over one end of the mounting stripand the shelf when mounted therein and operative to preventdisengagement of the shelf and mounting strip.

2. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 wherein an edge of the shelfarranged for engagement in said mounting strip has longitudinal ribsthereon extending beyond said opposite sides of the shelf and engageablein the channel behind the said lips.

3. A shelf assembly according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of saidribs is less than the depth between the base of the channel and the lipon the shallower side thereof.

4. A shelf assembly according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of saidribs is less than the depth between the base of the channel and the lipon the shallower side thereof.

5. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 wherein each end cap includes arecess shaped to fit over and receive the corresponding ends of theshelf and mounting strip when the latter members are in assembledrelationship.

6. A shelf assembly according to claim wherein the end cap carries insaid recess a lug arranged for Wedging engagement between the shelf andone side of the mounting strip defining said channel.

7. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 wherein the end cap carries insaid recess a pair of spaced studs arranged for engagement within theend of said mounting strip.

8. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sides of themounting strip defining said channel have a degree of resilience and theperpendicular spacing between the lips in less than the thickness of theshelf, whereby when assembled to the mounting strip the shelf extends atan angle to the perpendicular to the base of 4 the strip and must beforced against the resilient resistance of the sides of the mountingstrip to the perpendicular position before the end caps can beassembled.

9. A shelf assembly according to claim 8 wherein the mounting stripcomprises a metal pressing.

10. A shelf assembly according to claim 8 wherein a longitudinal sealingstrip is carried on the outer face of the base of the mounting strip,and arranged to effect a draught-proof seal between the mounting stripand the surface of a supporting wall.

11. A shelf assembly according to claim 8 wherein an edge of the shelfarranged for engagement in said mounting strip has longitudinal ribsthereon extending beyond said opposite sides of the shelf and engageablein the channel behind the said lips.

12. A shelf assembly according to claim 11 wherein the thickness of saidribs is less than the depth between the base of the channel and the lipon the shallower side thereof.

13. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal sealingstrip is carried on the outer face of the base of the mounting strip,and arranged to effect a draught-proof seal between the mounting stripand the surface of a supporting wall.

14. A shelf assembly comprising a mounting strip defining a longitudinalchannel of which one side is deeper than the other, a longitudinal lipon the mounting strip at each side of the channel extending inwardly ofthe channel mouth, a shelf engageable in the channel to be co-extensivetherewith with opposite sides of the shelf in abutment with the lips,and two end caps each engageable over one end of the mounting strip andthe shelf when mounted therein and operative to prevent disengagement ofthe shelf and mounting strip, each end cap being formed with a recesswhich is provided with Wedging means engageable within the end of themounting strip.

15. A shelf assembly according to claim 14 wherein a longitudinalsealing strip is carried on the outer face of the base of the mountingstrip, and arranged to effect a draught-proof seal between the mountingstrip and the surface of a supporting Wall.

16. A shelf assembly according to claim 14 wherein an edge of the shelfarranged for engagement in said mounting strip has longitudinal ribsthereon extending beyond said opposite sides of the shelf and engageablein the channel behind the said lips.

17. A shelf assembly according to claim 16 wherein the sides of themounting strip defining said channel have a degree of resilience and theperpendicular spacing between the lips is less than the thickness of theshelf, whereby when assembled to the mounting strip the shelf extends atan angle to the perpendicular to the base of the strip and must beforced against the resilient resistance of the sides of the mountingstrip to the perpendicular position before the end caps can beassembled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,426 5/1965 Bjerke 211-148XR 3,189,394 6/1965 Fay 312 231 3,209,711 10/1965 Pope 108-152 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,025,018 4/1966 Great Britain.

1,085,253 7/1954 France.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 248247; 108l52

